Of course. What did those farmers think they were going to happen when they voted for Trump and his love-affair with tariffs as some cure-all cudgel instead of a precision tool?
> America’s most farming-dependent counties overwhelmingly backed President-elect Donald Trump in this year’s election by an average of 77.7%.
> Some political observers questioned whether Trump’s support would wane among farmers after his first-term trade war, which led to increased prices and a drop in agricultural exports. During the campaign, Trump promised a return to high tariffs if given a second term.
> “His policies didn’t do us any good; his tariffs didn’t do us any good,” Lance Lillibridge, an Iowa farmer, told Investigate Midwest.
> Not only did Trump increase his support among farming-dependent counties, but more than 100 of those counties supported him with at least 80% of their vote.
> ~75-80% of farmers voted for this administration.
It’s a curious study in the psychology of cognitive blind spots I suppose. Surely farmers in the course of their work understand the phenomenon of cause and effect. Why is it so difficult then to port that to the political sphere? This is a man, who regardless of one’s own position on the political spectrum, seems so grossly under-equipped - both in terms of education and disposition -to steer a large complex economy, that it beggars comprehension as to how these farmers could have made the decisions that most did.
I'm confident in high volatility forward looking, but not confident democracy is dead (yet). Until elections have been cancelled, we proceed as if they are still on. If action is necessary to restore democracy, that is a possibility to be prepared for.
Edit: With regards to replies, I understand and appreciate the perspective, but the discussion will only lead to the subthread being detached here. It's important, it's valid, but it also is unproductive discussing it here. Discuss it elsewhere with like minded people.
Elections happen in Turkey, Russia and even North Korea.
Elections will happen in the USA, but only if they give the right answer. Didn't you get the memo that there is massive fraud, that voter rolls have to be purged (and are already purged in some states), that gerrymandering is normal, and that this is war?
Do you think Kash Patel, Pam Bondi and Tulsi Gabbard are just there to do their job honestly and independently? That they are just firing people left and right (mostly left, and not enough right) just because of incompetence? Do you think the Jan 6th coupists were pardoned only by magnanimity, and the military honours ordered for Ashli Babbitt are just there because Trump has a bleeding heart?
https://archive.today/ExcBx
Of course. What did those farmers think they were going to happen when they voted for Trump and his love-affair with tariffs as some cure-all cudgel instead of a precision tool?
You get what you asked for.
~75-80% of farmers voted for this administration. It's unfortunate. Better luck next election cycle.
“Too strong a belief in the rationality of people in general, or of the world, will lead us to seek purposive explanations where none exists.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/15/farm-labor-shortage...
https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/11/13/trump-election-far... (includes a map)
https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/10/15/midwest-farmers-ta...
> America’s most farming-dependent counties overwhelmingly backed President-elect Donald Trump in this year’s election by an average of 77.7%.
> Some political observers questioned whether Trump’s support would wane among farmers after his first-term trade war, which led to increased prices and a drop in agricultural exports. During the campaign, Trump promised a return to high tariffs if given a second term.
> “His policies didn’t do us any good; his tariffs didn’t do us any good,” Lance Lillibridge, an Iowa farmer, told Investigate Midwest.
> Not only did Trump increase his support among farming-dependent counties, but more than 100 of those counties supported him with at least 80% of their vote.
> ~75-80% of farmers voted for this administration.
It’s a curious study in the psychology of cognitive blind spots I suppose. Surely farmers in the course of their work understand the phenomenon of cause and effect. Why is it so difficult then to port that to the political sphere? This is a man, who regardless of one’s own position on the political spectrum, seems so grossly under-equipped - both in terms of education and disposition -to steer a large complex economy, that it beggars comprehension as to how these farmers could have made the decisions that most did.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-social-emotional...
What "next election cycle"?
You still don't understand what is happening?
I'm confident in high volatility forward looking, but not confident democracy is dead (yet). Until elections have been cancelled, we proceed as if they are still on. If action is necessary to restore democracy, that is a possibility to be prepared for.
Edit: With regards to replies, I understand and appreciate the perspective, but the discussion will only lead to the subthread being detached here. It's important, it's valid, but it also is unproductive discussing it here. Discuss it elsewhere with like minded people.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Russia still bothers to hold presidential elections.
Elections happen in Turkey, Russia and even North Korea.
Elections will happen in the USA, but only if they give the right answer. Didn't you get the memo that there is massive fraud, that voter rolls have to be purged (and are already purged in some states), that gerrymandering is normal, and that this is war?
Do you think Kash Patel, Pam Bondi and Tulsi Gabbard are just there to do their job honestly and independently? That they are just firing people left and right (mostly left, and not enough right) just because of incompetence? Do you think the Jan 6th coupists were pardoned only by magnanimity, and the military honours ordered for Ashli Babbitt are just there because Trump has a bleeding heart?
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downvoted of course; I guess some people can't handle the truth even when it's pretty obvious
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